7 U.S. Code § 2011 - Congressional declaration of policy

It is declared to be the policy of Congress, in order to promote the general welfare, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households. Congress finds that the limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition among members of such households. Congress further finds that increased utilization of food in establishing and maintaining adequate national levels of nutrition will promote the distribution in a beneficial manner of the Nation’s agricultural abundance and will strengthen the Nation’s agricultural economy, as well as result in more orderly marketing and distribution of foods. To alleviate such hunger and malnutrition, a supplemental nutrition assistance program is herein authorized which will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.

1977—Pub. L. 95–113substituted “a more nutritious diet” for “a nutritionally adequate diet” as the object of the program.

1971—Pub. L. 91–671provided for cooperation in utilization of Nation’s abundance of food by other agencies, struck out “to the maximum extent practicable” before “to safeguard the health”, enunciated finding that limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition, and substituted “promote the distribution” for “will tend to cause the distribution” and authorization of a program (to alleviate hunger and malnutrition) which will permit low-income households to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet through normal channels of trade for prior authorization of a program (to effectuate policy of Congress and purposes of this chapter) which will permit such households to receive a greater share of Nation’s abundance of food.

Pub. L. 106–171, § 1,Feb. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 3, provided that: “This Act [amending section
2016 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
2016 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–225, § 1,Mar. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 106, provided that: “This Act [amending sections
2012,
2014 to
2016,
2018, and
2026 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section
2012 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections
2015 and
2016 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Program Improvements Act of 1994’.”

Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, § 1701,Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3783, provided that: “This title [enacting section
2032 of this title, amending sections
1431,
1431e,
2012,
2014 to
2018,
2020 to
2022,
2024 to
2028,
3175, and
3175e of this title, section
6109 of Title
26, Internal Revenue Code, and sections
405 and
9904 of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections
612c,
2012,
2014,
2020,
2025, and
2028 of this title and section
1751 of Title
42, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections
612c and
2012 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act’.”

Pub. L. 100–232, § 1,Jan. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1566, provided that: “This Act [amending section
2014 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
612c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987’.”

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–570, title XI, § 11001,Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167, provided that: “This title [amending sections
2012,
2018 and
2019 of this title, sections
1531 and
1603 of Title
29, Labor, sections
3003 and
3020 [now 5103 and 5120] of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and sections
1383 and
1396a of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section
2012 of this title, sections
5103 and
5120 of Title
38, and sections
602,
1383 and
1396a of Title
42] may be cited as the ‘Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act’.”

Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, § 1301,Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1282, provided that: “This title [enacting sections
2029 and
2270 of this title, amending sections
2012,
2014 to
2016,
2018 to
2020, and
2023 to
2027 of this title, enacting a provision set out as a note under section
2012 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under section
612c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp and Commodity Distribution Amendments of 1981’.”

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–249, § 1,May 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 357, provided: “That this Act [amending sections
2012,
2014,
2015,
2019,
2020, and
2024 to
2027 of this title, sections
6103 and
7213 of Title
26, Internal Revenue Code, and sections
503 and
504 of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
2014 and
2026 of this title, section
6103 of Title
26, and section
503 of Title
42] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1980’.”

“(a) In General.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study of options for the design, development, implementation, and operation of a national database to track participation in Federal means-tested public assistance programs.

“(b) Administration.—In conducting the study, the Secretary shall—

“(1) analyze available data to determine—

“(A) whether the data have addressed the needs of the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

“(B) whether additional or unique data need to be developed to address the needs of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and

“(C) the feasibility and cost-benefit ratio of each available option for a national database;

“(2) survey the States to determine how the States are enforcing the prohibition on recipients receiving assistance in more than one State under Federal means-tested public assistance programs;

“(3) determine the functional requirements of each available option for a national database; and

“(4) ensure that all options provide safeguards to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure of information in the national database.

“(c) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 12, 1998], the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under this section.

“(d) Funding.—Out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture $500,000 to carry out this section. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the funds and shall accept the funds, without further appropriation.”

“(1) Establisment [sic].—There is established an Advisory Committee on Welfare Simplification and Coordination (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’) consisting of not fewer than 7, nor more than 11, members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’), after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and with the advice of State and local officials responsible for administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program, cash and medical assistance programs for low-income families and individuals under the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and programs providing housing assistance to needy families and individuals, and representatives of recipients and recipient advocacy organizations associated with such programs.

“(2) Qualifications.—The members of the Committee shall be individuals who are familiar with the rules, goals, and limitations of Federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, cash, medical, and housing assistance programs for low-income families and individuals, and may include individuals who have demonstrated expertise in evaluating the operations of and interaction among such programs as they affect administrators and recipients, persons who have experience in administering such programs at the Federal, State, or local level, and representatives of administrators and recipients affected by such programs.

“(b) Purpose.—It shall be the purpose of the Committee, in consultation, where appropriate, with program administrators and representatives of recipients—

“(1) to identify the significant policies implemented in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, cash and medical assistance programs under the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and housing assistance programs (whether resulting from law, regulations, or administrative practice) that, because they differ substantially, make it difficult for those eligible to apply for and obtain benefits from more than one program and restrict the ability of administrators of such programs to provide efficient, timely, and appropriate benefits to those eligible for more than one type of assistance, drawing, where appropriate, on previous efforts to coordinate and simplify such programs and policies;

“(2) to examine the major reasons for such different programs and policies;

“(3) to evaluate how and the extent to which such different programs and policies hinder, to a significant degree, the receipt of benefits from more than one program and substantially restrict administrators’ ability to provide efficient, timely, and appropriate benefits;

“(4) to recommend common or simplified programs and policies (including recommendations for changes in law, regulations, and administrative practice and for policies that do not currently exist in such programs) that would substantially reduce difficulties in applying for and obtaining benefits from more than one program and significantly increase the ability of administrators of such programs to efficiently provide timely and appropriate assistance to those eligible for more than one type of assistance; and

“(5) to describe the major effects of such common or simplified programs and policies (including how such common or simplified programs and policies would enhance or conflict with the purposes of such programs, how they would ease burdens on administrators and recipients, how they would affect program costs and participation, and the degree to which they would change the relationships between the Federal Government and the States in such programs) and the reasons for recommending such programs and policies (including reasons, if any, that might be sufficient to override special rules derived from the purposes of individual programs).

“(c) Administrative Support.—The Secretary shall provide the Committee with such technical and other assistance, including secretarial and clerical assistance, as may be required to carry out its functions.

“(d) Reimbursement.—Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation but shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel and subsistence expenses incurred by such members in the performance of the duties of the Committee.

“(e) Reports.—Not later than July 1, 1993, the Committee shall prepare and submit, to the appropriate committees of Congress, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a final report, including recommendations for common or simplified programs and policies and the effects of and reasons for such programs and policies and may submit interim reports, including reports on common or simplified programs and policies covering less than the complete range of programs and policies under review, to the committees and such Secretaries as deemed appropriate by the Committee.”

Rules

Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, § 1583,Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1595, provided that: “Not later than April 1, 1987, the Secretary shall issue rules to carry out the amendments made by this title [amending sections
612c,
1431e,
2012 to
2023, and
2025 to
2029 of this title, section
49b of Title
29, Labor, and section
503 of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare, and amending provisions set out as notes under section
612c of this title].”

“(a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall implement the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [now the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, this chapter] as expeditiously as possible consistent with the efficient and effective administration of the food stamp program. The provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended [this chapter prior to amendment by Pub. L. 95–113], which are relevant to current regulations of the Secretary governing the food stamp program, shall remain in effect until such regulations are revoked, superseded, amended, or modified by regulations issued pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Coupons issued pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, and in general use as of the effective date of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [Oct. 1, 1977], shall continue to be usable to purchase food, and all other liabilities of the Secretary, States, and applicant or participating households, under the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, shall continue in force until finally resolved or terminated by administrative or judicial action, or otherwise.

“(b) Pending proceedings under the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, shall not be abated by reason of any provision of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, but shall be disposed of pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, in effect prior to the effective date of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [Oct. 1, 1977].

“(c) Appropriations made available to carry out the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, shall be available to carry out the provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

[References to the food stamp program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 considered to refer to the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under that Act, see section 4002(c) ofPub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section
2012 of this title.]